Chapter 25 - Stay (2/2)

”Doctors are human as well. They're not God. Humphhh!!!”

”You're right. Doctors are amazing.” He caressed her head gently and she smiled happily. Forgot that she was supposed to be sulking.

Alicia start to play with his hand like it was the most natural thing. She flatten his palm before tickling it and then start poking it. Tristan felt peaceful and the beat of his heart are calmer compare to the previous days. Seeing her happy and smiling, daring to poke her fingers at his palm, he was glad to be the first person that she sees. His other hand caressed her bruise face gently before frowning.

”I look ugly right?” She asked easing the frown on his face. She didn't like to see it.

He took hold of her hand and kissed it spontaneously. She was stunned. Never expect he would do that.

”Yes, you do look ugly.” He said seriously. She gasped before throwing his hand away and trying to turn her body away from him. However, she forgot she's a patient with injuries that cause her to be in pain with vigorous move.

”Ah...pain.” She grimaced. Tristan start to look nervous again. He got up, wanting to call for a doctor. She braced the pain and grab hold on his hand again.

”Behave now. I'll call a doctor for you. I was supposed to inform them you're awake. And the doctor will give you something to ease the pain.” He patted her hand try to release his hand from her grasp.

”No, i don't want you to go. You could just press that red button there. And i don't want any pain killer. It will make me sleepy again. Stay with me. Please. You said you will protect me.” She knows she sound childish at the moment. But the thought of being alone is making her scared at the moment. She doesn't want to go through all that again. It's painful. She start trembling, hanging onto his hand.

Tristan immediately sit down and let her lay comfortably on the bed when she start trembling. Her eyes show fear and insecure. The calm fire in his heart start to intensified seeing her like this. It reminded him of the people that are now in his dark dungeon. They did this to her and he will pay 100 times more.

”Shhh...i'm here. I'm here. I won't go anywhere. I'll stay with you. Look at me. Love, look at me. I'm here right? And i will always protect you.” He forced her eye to look at him and seeing her nodded as her eyes start to water, he kiss both of her eyes. He brought her in his arm carefully without moving her too much and caressed her head softly. Like lulling baby to sleep. She start to calm down and her breathing start to be normal again. He heard the door to the room open, he signal with his hand to let whoever it is to stay put.

”They want to locked me again. But i said they don't have the right to do so. He laugh saying i'm his daughter. I still refuse. Then he order his men to break both of my arm and leg so i won't run away again. I try to fight. I don't want to go. I was scared. So scared. The thought of never seeing Ralph, my parent who adopted me, sister in law and my friends is frightening. They want to lock me up. I don't want to go back there. I don't want... You're not there. You said you would protect me. I'm scared. So scared.” She start wailing not caring her tears will make a mess on his shirt. Ignoring the kisses that he gave on her temple a couple of times. She just continue on crying not knowing there's other people enter the room.

Tristan felt like someone ripped his heart out when she cried like that. It made him realize how he had failed to protect her that night.

”I'm here now. I'm sorry if was late. But i'm here now. They will never hurt you any longer. Do you believe me?” He asked. Without pausing, she nodded her head.

”Uhm. I believe in you. I always do.” She said in between her sobs. His heart was aching. She still believe in him even though he had failed to keep his promise back then.

”Go to sleep now so you can recover quickly. I'll always be here next to you.” He coaxed her gently. She no longer wanted to protest. Probably because she's still in a recovery process and after all that crying, she start to feel sleepy. The gentle caressed on her head is really helpful as she welcome her peaceful sleep.

The moment she start breathing evenly, he knew she already fell asleep. He then made the people waiting in front of the door enter the room as he sat there with Alicia's head on his arm as her new pillow. His other hand is still in her hand, holding it tightly even in her sleep.

Rachel was the first one to enter the room. Following along are Ralph, Delilah and their parent. They all heard what Alicia said just now and they too are affected by it. Mrs Xander and Delilah already had tears in their eyes as they made their way to the bed. Watching over Alicia who's sleeping comfortably on Tristan's arm.

”Look if she open any of her wound. She have been moving around way too much just now.” Tristan said when Rachel is looking into her charts.

”This girl. She knows she can't move around too much. Her broken rib is still in the process of healing. She will make herself in danger if she keep on moving. Do you want me to restrain her?” Rachel sighed but there's gentleness in her tone. Alicia herself is a doctor. Alicia would know better on the do's and don't.

”No. She said she doesn't want any pain killer. Do you have any other way to reduce her pain?”

”Aside from laying still? No. Keep her from moving around again. It must have been painful for her to move that far.” Pointing at the way she sleep on Tristan's arm. Tristan held his thoughts.

It didn't take long when they finally left Tristan with Alicia again. But they would come again tomorrow morning since Alicia is awake now. For tonight, they leave it up to Tristan. They all knew Alicia sees Tristan as her safe haven at the moment which is why they can't do anything about it. In the past it was Ralph. Now, with the new incident it was Tristan. Thinking of what Alicia cried out before she went to sleep, they look grimly when they left the hospital.